On December 13th, 2018 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., the Senior Executives Association and Senior Executives Association Professional Development League will host the 2018 Presidential Rank Awards Leadership Summit, a full-day event offering exceptional educational, mentoring, and networking opportunities for current and aspiring government leaders.

The Summit will feature educational tracks that address the three most pressing areas of concern for Federal career senior leaders, including: Future of Work, Future of Workforce, Future of Workplace.

The conference will also recognize the extraordinary public service of senior career professionals by honoring the 2018 Distinguished and Meritorious recipients of the Presidential Rank Awards. The Presidential Rank Award represents the top award a civilian federal employee can receive, awarded by the President of the United States to the top 1% (Distinguished) and 5% (Meritorious) of federal employees, as nominated by their respective agencies. In 2017, more than 300 Senior Executives were among the event's 500 attendees.

SEA Responds to Remarks Made By Speaker of the House, Congressman Miller and Senator Rubio Regarding VA Employee Accountability

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senior Executives Association (SEA), the professional association that represents career Senior Executives across government, including at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), feels compelled to respond to the inaccurate statements regarding VA employees during a press conference held by the Speaker of the House, Representative Miller, and Senator Rubio regarding VA accountability.

The press conference was ostensibly held to discuss legislation that would increase accountability at the VA. While SEA agrees with the speakers that our veterans deserve access to world-class care, the Association is deeply concerned that the legislation they are championing would do the exact opposite by allowing Congress and the media to attack and politicize the VA work force, weakening the very system of employees who have dedicated their careers to helping American's veterans and who, on the whole, do great work for them.

Clearly there are problems to be addressed at VA, from backlogs to preventable patient deaths. The VA should aim to ensure that no one has to wait for care and that there are no preventable patient deaths, however, these are issues with which every hospital in this country deals. But the legislation in question does not address these issues. In fact, it does a disservice to veterans by distracting from the complex solutions that are needed to get to the root of the problems.

While it may sound reasonable and appropriate to say the bill would give the Secretary a tool from the private sector to hold employees accountable, what the sponsors of the legislation failed to mention is that the Secretary already has, and uses, tools to hold employees accountable. Last year alone, the VA removed over 3,000 employees, including several Senior Executives. Just because it doesn't make headlines doesn't mean it did not occur. The sponsors of the legislation also failed to mention that the Secretary has told the House Committee on Veterans Affairs that he does not need or want the legislation.

SEA President Carol Bonosaro said, "SEA strongly believes that problem employees should be held accountable and supports real efforts to identify policies that strengthen employee accountability systems across government. This legislation does not achieve the goal of accountability and instead is a quick fix sound-bite that does not address the very real issues of backlogs and access to care. SEA calls on the Speaker and other supporters of this legislation to end this attack on federal employees and to instead focus on the goal that we all support – ensuring the best care. Our veterans have earned that and deserve more than sound-bite policies."

The Senior Executives Association (SEA) is a professional association representing Senior Executive Service members and other career federal executives. Founded in 1980, SEA's goals are: to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and productivity of the federal government; to advance the professionalism and advocate the interests of career federal executives; and to enhance public recognition of their contributions. The SEA Professional Development League (PDL) is a nonprofit educational organization committed to advancing the professionalism of career federal executives through the sponsorship of training, recognition, and research activities.###

The Senior Executives Association (SEA) is the professional association for career members of the Senior Executive Service (SES) and equivalent positions. SEA also represents aspiring leaders (GS-12 to GS-15s) who are part of SEA’s leadership pipeline program.

SEA is not only the voice of career leaders through a strong advocacy program, it empowers senior leaders across government by providing the tools, resources and connections they need to succeed in the 21st Century.

SEA members receive access to research and news, strategic networks, and connections to the good practices across government that they may not receive on the job.

Above all else, SEA is guided by dedication to public service and to helping career Federal leaders better serve the American people. Through membership, SEA members are part of the movement to transform government for the 21st Century and to empower senior leaders to drive change.

What you get

Through strategic connections, insight into cutting-edge practices and resources, career advancement tools, and thought leadership, SEA helps its members build a “Leadership Profession” within the federal government to ensure that the experience of senior career leaders is used in new ways to promote a stronger and more effective government.

SEA membership options are available to career SES and equivalent positions, retired SES and aspiring leaders (GS-12 through GS-15). Click below for information about eligibility and membership categories.